Njuri Ncheke officials ousted

What started like a minor dispute over the coronation of some leaders by the revered Njuri Ncheke Council of elders has snowballed into a vicious fight among the Meru politicians.

Yesterday, the officials, who installed Senate Majority Leader Prof Kithure Kindiki as the spokesman for the Ameru people, were replaced during a meeting held at the Nchiru Shrine.

In what seemed like a well-choreographed elections, the elders from Meru and Tharaka Nithi threw out secretary general Phares Ruteere, chairman Paul M'ethinkia and the rest of the management team. The replacement of the officials was a culmination of weeks of supremacy battles between Meru politicians, some of whom have accused the council of elders of being guns for hire.

During yesterday's meeting attended by more than 2,000 delegates from Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Isiolo counties, the elders decided to show the officials the door for "failing to live up to the expectations of the Meru people". The ousted officials, who included the chairman and secretary general, did not show up at the charged meeting for fear of reprisal.

Besides being replaced, the ousted officials were fined a bull, a 100-litre gallon of pure honey and a ram for allegedly going against the laid down house rules.

They were accused of unprocedurally installing Isiolo Governor Mohammed Doyo as a Meru elder and bestowing the same feat to then Libyan leader the late Muamur Gadaffi.

In a traditional ceremony that involved slaughtering of bulls and goats, the elders holding sticks and singing folk songs declared that the election of new officials heralded a new beginning for the association.

After the election Meru Governor Peter Munya, who has been opposing the coronation of Kindiki, made a triumphant entry and declared that "the days when Njuri Ncheke was used for selfish reasons are over."

The elections shared the top positions among the Tharaka Nithi and Meru regions. However, a section of elders gave the elections a wide berth. Silas Kathera, the new chairman, said elders will conduct new officials for all locations in the two counties.

Ruteere and M'ethinkia and a section of elders stayed away. Speaking to The Standard on Sunday on telephone, Ruteere dismissed the coup as "illegal and of no consequence." "We will issue a statement later but due procedure was not followed," said Ruteere.

Josphat Murangiri, Ruteere's replacement as secretary general, said previous office holders were working against the community. "They have been saying Meru is getting enough resources from the national government, yet we need more," he said.